Soldier Feared Dead, Others Unaccounted for After Violent Encounter in Taraba; Bandit Arrests Recorded in Kwara.
One member of the Nigerian Army has lost his life, while two others remain unaccounted for, following a violent confrontation between security personnel and suspected militia operatives in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The incident reportedly took place on Monday during a coordinated security assignment aimed at protecting farmers as they harvested their crops in a rural part of Takum, an area that has witnessed repeated tensions and armed confrontations in recent times.
Military sources disclosed that troops from an elite combat unit, working alongside officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were assigned to safeguard Tiv farmers operating in the area.
According to information gathered, the security team came under sudden attack from armed assailants believed to be members of a local militia group.
The confrontation quickly escalated, resulting in the death of one soldier, while two others were reported missing as of the time of filing this report. Efforts to determine their whereabouts were said to be ongoing.
In the aftermath of the attack, troops reportedly moved swiftly to secure parts of Takum town. Security operatives cordoned off the venue of an election meeting involving executives of the Miyetti Allah association, which was taking place at the Federal Government Reservation Samsokwa Hall.
Several male officials present at the gathering were taken into custody for questioning. However, authorities have not confirmed any direct link between those arrested and the earlier assault on the security team.
Meanwhile, unverified allegations have emerged suggesting that a senior state government official, specifically the special adviser on security in Taraba State, may have ties to the militia group behind the attack.
These claims remain speculative, as no independent confirmation has been provided by security agencies or the state government.
In a related development elsewhere in the country, security operatives have recorded a significant arrest in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. A group of suspected armed bandits was apprehended during an operation conducted on Friday.
The suspects were reportedly found in possession of AK-47 rifles at the time of their arrest.
Following their capture, the individuals were taken into custody for further investigation. A video that later circulated on social media showed the suspects restrained on the ground as operatives interrogated them about the origin of the firearms.
In the footage, one of the men alleged that certain officials within the Kwara State government supplied them with both the weapons and a vehicle.
He claimed they operated under the guise of routine patrols and that the firearms were not personally owned by them but held by their group leader.
Security agencies have yet to officially respond to the allegations, while investigations into both incidents continue.
